Apparatus and method for wireless, remote control of multiple devices

Abstract

A transceiver is used to receive remotely-broadcast, radio frequency (rf) signals at a first frequency. The remotely-broadcast rf signals contain encoded, partial control commands as message packets. Each transceiver is adapted to respond only to signals addressed to it. Upon receipt of an intended rf signal, the transceiver decodes and authenticates the signal. If authenticity is established and the decoded signal is recognized as a proper control signal, a new control message packet is generated using information contained in the incoming message packet and information stored in the memory of the internal micro-controller. The new message packet is broadcast using by a low-power rf transmitter tuned to a different frequency that the frequency of the incoming rf signal. A random delay may be introduced between the receipt of the incoming message and the broadcast of the outgoing message to minimize the probability of correlating the output signal with the input signal. Each controlled device within range of the low-power transmitter then receives the new signal, decodes its contents, and responds appropriately to signals intended for the individual device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for controlling remotely located devices from a central location comprising: a central control facility for generating a control message indicative of a desired action at a remote location, said control message comprising an encoded, incomplete message packet;   a first broadcast facility for broadcasting said encoded, incomplete message packet on a first frequency;   at least one wireless command converter including memory and also including receiving means for receiving said encoded incomplete message packet and first verification means for verifying the authenticity of said encoded incomplete message packet, said each at least one wireless command converter also including means for decoding said encoded incomplete message packet and generating a final message packet made up of data in said encoded incomplete message packet and data stored in said wireless command converter memory, and where said wireless command converter further includes a second broadcast facility for broadcasting said final message packet on a second frequency, where said second frequency is different than said first frequency, said wireless command converter further including a psuedo-random delay timer means to provide a random time interval between receiving said encoded incomplete message packet and broadcasting said final message packet; and   at least one wireless remote control unit adapted to receive said final message packet, including second verification means for verifying the authenticity of said final message packet, and control means for controlling an external device according to data contained in final message packet, said data conforming to the desired action at a remote location initiated at said central control facility.   
     
     
       2. A method for remotely controlling devices, the steps comprising: receiving a request for a remote action at a central control facility;   verifying the authenticity of said request;   generating an encoded, incomplete message packet indicative of said remote action request;   transmitting said encoded, incomplete message packet at a first frequency;   receiving said encoded incomplete message packet at least one wireless command converter;   verifying the authenticity of said encoded, incomplete message packet;   decoding said encoded incomplete message packet;   generating a final message packet made up of said decoded incomplete message packet and further made up of data stored in memory of said wireless command converter;   waiting for a pseudo-randomly determined period of time;   transmitting said final message packet at a second frequency different from said first frequency;   receiving said final message packet at a wireless remote control unit;   verifying the authenticity of said final message packet;   controlling an external device according to data contained in said final message packet.